By joyce remi-babayeju
The fct health service and environment secretariat have dismissed rumors of the death of 10 children from measles in damagaze community going in the fct, as reported by the news agency of nigeria and shared by other news agencies.
In response to the viral news, the health secretariat said that a team from the board comprising the executive secretary of the primary health care board, the director of public health, the state epidemiologist, the state dsno, director phc-phcb, the amac director phc and other members of the municipal area council team and other high-level officials went on a fact finding mission to damagaza community to investigate and carry out due diligence on the report.
“The fct administration is therefore stating emphatically that the rumors of 10 deaths due to the measles outbreak in the damage community, as reported by certain news media, is false!
“We call on all citizens in the fct to ignore the publications and go about their business peacefully.” , dr adedolapo fasawe, mandate secretary health services and environment secretariat fct disclosed that the Phc- phcb, the team has engaged with the community head, the mai anguwa, the women leader, the community volunteer and other significant key informants in the community to find out if there are such cases as reported.
“The community head stated emphatically that he was unaware of these rumored deaths. The health investigating team was unable to substantiate the rumors.” ” the names of the children, their parents, and their addresses could not be confirmed. Many of the names listed were not identifiable and some were demised 3 to 5 years ago.”
The fct health board further stated that there was no professional diagnosis in a laboratory before an announcement of an outbreak of measles without consultation with health officials.
“For the number of rumored deaths, it was strange that the village head of the damage community was unaware of these deaths in his community.”
Also, the head of the hausawa settlement within the community, the women leader, the community informant and the damage phc facility workers and all key informants that were interviewed all debunked these rumors.
“The dead children, their parents, their ages, sex and home addresses could not be verified.” We reassure all citizens that the fct surveillance system is sensitive and active to prevent, detect or control outbreaks, the board stated.
